Turtle time again!
Cooloola Coastcare’s TurtleCare group is very keen for public help – here are Murray Sambell and Randy Orwin at turtle training
The 2019 – 2020 turtle season saw a flurry of activity at Rainbow Beach with 34 nesting events recorded.
All indications are for an early nesting season this year as there have been many reports of marine turtles “romancing” in Hervey Bay and Platypus Bay over the past four weeks. Turtle nesting can occur as early as October through to February.
Cooloola Coastcare’s TurtleCare group is very keen for public help, with reports of any turtle track sightings from Inskip, Rainbow Beach, Double Island Point and along Teewah Beach. Volunteers are on call 24/7 to take your call.
If you find fresh tracks, take a photo with your smartphone, making sure the location setting is turned on (GPS coordinates) and call one of the following:
Joan 0407 810 510 TurtleCare Team Leader
Randy 0434 281 352 Cooloola Coastcare President
Jan 0429 481 490 Rainbow Beach resident and volunteer
Steve and Rosie 0407 660 113 Rainbow Beach residents and volunteers
During the season we’ll provide regular updates on the marine turtles.
TurtleCare Volunteer Information Night
Do you want to join in and help our local turtles during nesting season?
Were you a volunteer last season?
Are you just interested in knowing more about our marine turtles?
Come along to the Rainbow Beach Community Hall on the evening of Monday, November 9 from 5.30 – 7pm and you can find out about ways you can help including:
Turtle Track Spotters (Early morning beach walkers who find the fresh turtle tracks, photograph and report them)
Nesting Turtle Spotters (Nightshift during the three-week Turtle Census event in December who spot the nesting turtles and record the details and call in our Turtle Tagging Team)
We are expanding our activities this year and need lots more helpers.
You will find out about the marine turtle life cycle; how to identify the species of turtle from the tracks; how to take photos of turtle tracks and nests for accurate location; see videos of turtles hatching and so much more at this ‘family friendly” event.
Cooloola Coastcare’s TurtleCare is proudly supported in 2020 – 2022 by the Queensland Government—Queensland Citizen Science Grants.
Joan Burnett – TurtleCare
